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 Omikron in den Atemwegen infographic
Grafik befasst sich mit den jüngsten Omikron Studien.
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GESUNDHEIT

Omikcron gedeiht in Atemwegen

By Duncan Mil

December 17, 2021 - Laut einer Studie der Universität HongKong, die noch auf Begutachtung wartet, kann sich die Omikron Coronavirus Variante in Atemwegen viel schneller ausbreiten als Delta oder die ursprüngliche Variante.

Compared to the earlier Delta variant, Omicron replicates 70 times more quickly in the bronchus -- the tissue which connects the trachea to the lungs – within 24 hours after infection.

The study, conducted by a team of researchers led by Michael Chan Chi-wai, found that the newest variant of concern replicated less efficiently -- more than ten times lower -- in lung tissue than the original strain, which may signal “lower severity of disease.” The findings, posted on Monday on the website bioRxiv ahead of peer review, need to be verified.

A separate study conducted by researchers at New York-based Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons found the virus resistant to “convalescent plasma,” donated by people who have recovered from infection.

The non-peer-reviewed study also found that neutralizing potency from individuals who received the Pfizer or Moderna mRNA-based vaccines was reduced 21-fold and 8.9-fold, respectively.

The Hong Kong University study warns against taking the new variant lightly. “By infecting many more people, a very infectious virus may cause more severe disease and death even though the virus itself may be less pathogenic,” Chan said in the statement.

Sources
PUBLISHED: 17/12/2021; STORY: Graphic News
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